131:(Purification of the Village). Especially popular in southern Okinawa. A cow is slaughtered, and its various parts used to ritually cleanse the community. The cow's blood is smeared with leaves onto walls and gates. Then the heart is boiled and presented at an utaki, ancient tombs, or the house of an especially old or powerful family. A rope, particularly a straw rope, is hung over paths at the edge of town to mark the reaches of the community's sanctuary and keep out evil influences. Bones of the cow are then tied to the string and the cow's meat is given out for communal consumption.
362:") at harvest festivals. At various midmonth festivals around the Okinawa Islands, shishimai dances are performed to consecrate the festival ground and open the festival. A wooden lion mask and wooly-looking costume of woven and dyed banana/choma strips is worn, and the dance is performed to loud music featuring gongs, drums, bells, flutes, sanshin, and various other instruments. Some lion dances feature two or more dancers as the lion.
189:
boat ceremonies performed on rivers and lakes in China. Traditionally the races are held on the fourth day of the fifth lunar month, but in Naha they are now staged on May 4 (solar calendar), to match the tourist season of "Golden Week". The largest races are in Naha, Itoman, and
Tamagusuku; similar races are also held on any of the islands where people from Okinawa Island have settled (Yonaguni, Ishigaki, etc.).
167:(Taboo Against Loud Noise). Between April and May, it was forbidden to make loud noises (thus cut down trees). People believed the noise would cause wind that would destroy the crops; while the noise wouldn't cause the wind, the cutting down of trees would have destroyed natural windbreaks that truly did keep the crops safe.
138:(Purification at the Beach). A holiday for girls and women, they often walk along the beach, and families collect shells. This is based upon the belief that walking on white sand is purifying. Some also believe that bad omens can be ignored if one walks beside the sea. Mugwort and rice cakes are eaten on this day.
279:
in the northern part of
Okinawa, priestesses invoke the gods of the sea for prosperity and good fishing. Some priestesses call to the gods from a place in a boat out on the water, and then assume the forms of the gods, much as the men of Kunigami assume the form of the mountain gods during Sinugu
188:
Races). Teams of local men race dragon-shaped boats amid rituals of tribute to sea gods. Boat races in connection with prayers to ensure good fishing have been staged since the 14th century, and today's races arose from the mixing of two traditions: the fishermen's races on the sea and the dragon
310:
with their living relatives. Prayers and offerings such as incense, food, alcohol, and flowers are all made three times a day. Like Siimii and New Year's Eve (v.s.), Obon is a significant holiday in the ancestors worship, and the attendance of members of extended families is almost required. The
95:
is enjoyed for good luck; in some places, slices of dried squid and salt are eaten. When visiting the heads of one's family, incense is offered to ancestors. Male members traditionally make these visits; however, these days wives and children may go along as well. Most people also visit a Shinto
254:
rite. At Ada near
Kunigami Village in the northern part of Okinawa, males climb up into the mountains and pray to the mountain gods for prosperity and a good harvest. They also face the direction of the sea and call upon the sea gods for the same. Then they ritually assume the
508:
leaves, are offered to signal the beginning of winter and pray for the health of the family. Where there are children, the muuchii are tied to strings and hung, the number of muuchii tied up being determined by the child's age. Where a child has been born that year,
480:("lowering the nets") fishing ritual on Kudaka. Priests and three priestesses pray and make offerings of alcohol and rice to sea gods in order to ensure good fishing. Seven temporary enclosures are built by the sea to provide shelter for the visiting gods.
491:. No longer performed due to lack of women to take on priestess roles. Performed every twelve years during every Year of the Horse. A four-day, four-stage initiation ritual, ordaining all women of the island between 31 and 40 as priestesses (v.s.).
280:(v.s.). They return to the shore, greeted by other priestesses and hosted in a ritual tent. They make blessings and receive libation offerings, then visit area villages. Finally, the gods are seen off by local people who gather on the beach.
259:
of mountain deities by covering themselves with leaves and crowning themselves with red flowers. They carry branches down into the community and together purify it by waving the branches over its borders and its fields. In a rite called
124:(Ancestors at the New Year). One of many holidays on which extend families gather at their tomb to make offerings (flowers, incense, awamori, food) and prayers, as well as to have a picnic and commune in the presence of their ancestors.
117:. The hwinukan goes away from the kitchen and back to his own home from December 24 to 3 January. Matrons burn incense and make offerings (awamori, rice) at the kitchen hearth to welcome him home. Especially popular on the main island.
397:). At this performance festival's roots are priestess prayers of thanks and hope concerning this year's harvest and that of the next. There are parades of dancers and various other folk performances, including formal
365:
August: Tugs-of-War. Midmonth August festivals often feature a communal tug-of-war using a giant fiber rope that can often take days to weave. The rope in Naha is over 200m long and weighs more than 40 metric tons.
351:) is burned. All remaining offerings are gathered and set outdoors, and ancestors are sent away. EisÄ dancing traditionally ends Obon, the drums sending the ancestors away with respect and blessings. (Ooshiro 17-18)
323:) is prepared for spirits who receive no regular attention and accompany ancestors into the home. Often offerings may spill over onto low tables set up in front of the buchidan. On the offerings may be placed a
89:; New Year's Day). Local religious leaders hold first rites of the New Year. Heads of household or first sons visit relatives and the elderly to present gifts. In the homes of senior citizens, a cup of
439:). A dance of Chinese origin, performed originally at Kume but brought to Nakagusuku for performance during harvest. It is energetic and features Chinese-style costumes and props.
149:). Another Okinawan visitation of the ancestors' at the family tomb. Held at this time to appropriately begin spring and the year's agricultural work. Also celebrated is
46:. The Okinawan culture is noted for extreme diversity. The following list is based on south-central Okinawa, and may not be applied to northern Okinawa.
17:
160:(Ritual to Ward Off Pests). Grass is cut along the edges of fields; rats and insects are caught, put aboard small boats, and ritually set out to sea.
226:(Rice Offering to Ancestors). Rice steamed with red beans and offered to ancestors as thanks for a good harvest. Also may be celebrated in August.
488:
383:
367:
339:), people have a farewell gathering for their ancestors. A large meal with the best food is presented. Then incense and paper money called
74:(New Year's Eve). Amid celebration, garlic is used in different ways (according to local tradition) to banish and keep away evil spirits.
424:). A stage show is held, at the end of which a pair of shishi marionettes, a male and a female, dance and play together accompanied by
250:
256:
553:
523:
374:
241:(v.s.). Marital rites and other celebrations are taboo during lunar July due to its rituals involving the presence of the dead.
390:). A men's circle dance of Chinese origin performed in traditional summer dress to the accompaniment of small hand-held drums.
219:(Harvest Festivals/Millet Festivals). Families pray together giving thanks for a good harvest and seeking future prosperity.
563:
190:
61:. The categories below ("January - May" and "June - December") are artificial, created for ease of article navigation.
293:
trees. Families also visit graves with offerings to invite ancestors to the following week's Obon. (Ooshiro 17)
558:
543:
538:
110:) to find out about their luck in the coming year; other common Japanese New Year traditions are upheld.
548:
457:(prayer pilgrimages). During September, people visit various sacred sites to pay respects to famous
153:, when family heads of a widely extended family all gather to commune with their common ancestors.
315:. The family altar and memorial tablets cleaned and decked with incense, fruit, and sugarcane (
238:
264:, the men receive ritual libations as offerings to the gods whose forms they have assumed.
8:
436:
58:
39:
513:
is celebrated, when the parents visit their neighbors and family to give out muuchii.
387:
462:
421:
104:
around this time of year to make a New Year's wish and draw a New Year's fortune (
370:
348:
51:
35:
466:
276:
234:
97:
47:
532:
447:
394:
192:
500:
470:
302:
172:
185:
405:
dances. Similar dance festivals are held throughout
Okinawa, notably on
417:
359:
344:
78:, the year's first drawn water, is set out as an offering to ancestors.
331:) is then lit with pine torch, candles, or incense. The second day (
406:
285:
29:
425:
106:
91:
335:) is rather uneventful. At close to midnight on the third day (
290:
57:
Unless otherwise noted, dates are according to the traditional
43:
343:(representing money for the world of the dead, like Chinese
248:("for men and brothers"). Somewhat similar to Miyako-jima's
297:
450:. A traditional staff dance accompanied by harvest prayer.
319:) offerings. A simple offering of rice, beans, and water (
522:
The information in this article is drawn primarily from
54:
hold substantially different festivals and observances.
289:. Wishes are written on strips of paper and hung from
526:, a site run by the Okinawa Prefectural government.
409:, who now celebrate after the harvest in November.
393:10 August: Beginning of Yabu Dance Festival (near
530:
306:. During Obon, ancestors are believed to gather
504:) Offerings. Muuchii, or rice cakes wrapped in
197:
412:13 August and 15 August (every five years):
64:
233:Sichigwachi, or "Seventh Month", is the
14:
531:
461:. Especially popular are areas around
369:A similar tug-of-war takes place in
24:
25:
18:Ryukyuan festivals and observances
575:
524:Festivals and Rituals of Okinawa
554:Festivals in Okinawa Prefecture
141:Early April (solar calendar):
70:31 December (solar calendar):
13:
1:
517:
311:first day of Obon is called
81:1 January (solar calendar):
7:
564:Lists of festivals in Japan
420:Performances at Jana (near
198:June - December observances
10:
580:
134:3 March (solar calendar):
65:January - May observances
237:marked with a midmonth
27:This is an overview of
378:9 August - 15 August:
239:veneration of the dead
163:Late April/Early May:
85:, (Standard Japanese:
559:Lists of observances
498:(Standard Japanese:
113:4 January: Hwinukan
327:. The family gate (
300:Festival featuring
544:Religious holidays
539:Festivals in Japan
296:July 13ā15 or 16:
59:lunisolar calendar
40:Okinawa Prefecture
549:Religion in Japan
435:Dance (in Iju in
275:. At Shioya Bay,
16:(Redirected from
571:
127:Early February:
42:of southwestern
21:
579:
578:
574:
573:
572:
570:
569:
568:
529:
528:
520:
349:Hell Bank Notes
200:
67:
36:Okinawa Islands
32:and observances
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
577:
567:
566:
561:
556:
551:
546:
541:
519:
516:
515:
514:
492:
481:
474:
467:Nakijin gusuku
451:
440:
429:
410:
391:
376:
363:
352:
294:
281:
265:
242:
227:
220:
199:
196:
195:
194:
168:
161:
154:
139:
132:
125:
118:
111:
79:
66:
63:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
576:
565:
562:
560:
557:
555:
552:
550:
547:
545:
542:
540:
537:
536:
534:
527:
525:
512:
511:hachi muuchii
507:
503:
502:
497:
493:
490:
489:Kudaka Island
486:
483:15 November:
482:
479:
476:13 November:
475:
472:
468:
464:
460:
456:
452:
449:
445:
441:
438:
434:
430:
428:and drumming.
427:
423:
419:
415:
411:
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
389:
385:
384:Tsuken Island
381:
377:
375:
372:
368:
364:
361:
357:
353:
350:
346:
342:
338:
334:
330:
326:
322:
318:
314:
309:
305:
304:
299:
295:
292:
288:
287:
282:
278:
277:Ogimi Village
274:
270:
266:
263:
258:
253:
252:
247:
243:
240:
236:
232:
228:
225:
221:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
201:
193:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
174:
169:
166:
162:
159:
155:
152:
148:
144:
140:
137:
133:
130:
126:
123:
122:Zuuruku Nichi
119:
116:
112:
109:
108:
103:
101:
94:
93:
88:
84:
80:
77:
73:
69:
68:
62:
60:
55:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
34:found in the
33:
31:
19:
521:
510:
505:
499:
495:
494:8 December:
484:
477:
471:Shuri Castle
458:
454:
443:
432:
413:
402:
398:
379:
355:
340:
336:
332:
328:
324:
320:
316:
312:
307:
303:EisÄ dancing
301:
284:
272:
268:
261:
249:
245:
230:
223:
216:
212:
208:
204:
181:
177:
171:
164:
157:
151:kami-usiimii
150:
146:
142:
135:
129:Simakusarasi
128:
121:
120:16 January:
114:
105:
99:
90:
86:
82:
75:
71:
56:
28:
26:
453:September:
442:15 August:
433:Taa Faa Kuu
431:15 August:
360:Lion Dances
235:Ghost Month
231:Sichigwachi
217:Awa Sichuma
186:Dragon Boat
173:Jukkanuhwii
158:Źabusibaree
533:Categories
518:References
455:Kami Ugami
444:Masutoriya
437:Nakagusuku
418:Marionette
345:Joss paper
333:nakanuhwii
156:14 April:
83:Sjoogwachi
72:Tusinuyuru
403:Kumiodori
399:Yotsudaki
358:Dances ("
356:Shishimai
341:Źuchikabi
222:June 25:
147:Qing-Ming
76:ŹWakamizi
30:festivals
485:Źizaihoo
407:Ie-shima
388:Katsuren
380:Too Udui
354:August:
321:minnukuu
308:en masse
286:Tanabata
283:July 7:
262:sakankei
257:godforms
224:Kasichii
165:Jamadumi
136:HamaŹuri
98:shrine (
87:ShÅgatsu
496:Muuchii
478:Amidusi
463:Nakijin
426:sanshin
422:Nakijin
416:Shishi
382:Dance (
325:sangwaa
273:Źungami
269:Źunjami
213:Sikjoma
209:Sichuma
205:Umachii
184:Races (
170:May 4:
145:(Chin.
107:omikuji
92:awamori
52:Yaeyama
506:sannin
469:) and
414:Ayachi
337:Źuukui
313:Źunkee
291:bamboo
267:July:
246:Sinugu
244:July:
229:July:
203:June:
182:Haarei
178:Haarii
143:Siimii
48:Miyako
501:mochi
371:Korea
251:PÄntu
115:mukee
100:jinja
44:Japan
459:kami
448:Ueno
401:and
395:Nago
317:uuzi
298:Obon
50:and
487:on
446:at
347:or
329:zoo
535::
386:,
373:.
176:,
38:,
473:.
465:(
271:/
215:/
211:/
207:/
180:/
102:)
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.